Americas Downstream news

Petrobras has been ordered by the court in Duque de Caxias to pay US$ 3.5 million to people affected by the spill at the Rio de Janeiro refinery in 2001. A technical malfunction within the facility caused 140 t of contaminates to be spilt.

California

On Monday 29th November 1300 bbls of petroleum leaked from the Chevron Corp. owned Richmond refinery. The filing with state regulators read that a broken pipe caused the spill.

During 5th – 7th December Tesoro Corp. will carryout planned maintenance at part of the Los Angeles based Wilmington refinery. The refinery has warned surrounding residents that some flaring may occur.

The Royal Dutch Shell Plc owned Martinez refinery will shut process units for planned maintenance in the first half of 2011. The distillate hydrotreater and a hydrocracker will be shutdown at different times between February and May 2011.

Canada

Saipem SpA has been awarded an oilsands contract for the Sunrise Energy Project. The US$ 1 billion contract was awarded by Husky Energy Inc. and will be executed by Saipem’s Calgary operator, Snamprogetti Canada.

Louisiana

On 5th December at 8:40 am Motiva Enterprises LLC’s Norco refinery released an unspecified amount of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. The release was due to equipment failure, which resulted in both sulfur plants tripping.

Sasol is going to build the world’s first tetramerisation unit. This will be the first commercial unit of its kind and will be part of the Lake Charles refinery. Construction will begin in 2011.

Minnesota

Marathon Oil Corporation has completed the sale of most of its Minnesota downstream assets. The company has sold all assets to Tier Energy LLC for US$ 935 million. The sale includes the St Paul Park refinery and its pipelines.

Ohio

Sunoco Inc. is looking to sell their Toledo refinery and reduce staff by approximately 175 personnel. The company is looking to sell the facility for US$ 400 million to PBF Energy.